Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

The Greater Sandhill Crane is an impressive bird with its red crown and six foot plus wingspan.  It is a bird hard to forget once you have heard the distinctive bugling call and see the elaborate courtship dancing it performs.  One of the best places to see and photograph Sandhills is at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area near Medaryville, Indiana.  Each fall thousands of cranes stage here on their way to wintering grounds in Georgia and Florida.  Each morning and evening during the migration birders and non-birders alike gather at an observation deck to watch the cranes.  Photographers arrive early in the morning to get beautiful sun on the birds as they fly out to feed.  In the evening the birds are backlit and beautiful silhouettes are possible against the right sky.  My first night there I was hoping the clouds and rain would clear but unfortunately that didn't happen.  There was, however, a small clearing in the northwest sky which gave a small opportunity for somewhat different looking silhouette shots.  The next morning and evening were beautiful with very warm, comfortable conditions for November.